Page 9 of Adrift

“If I could borrow a pen, and a slice of pie for dessert…?” Gage prompts me, still leaning on the bar. “Well, I’d rather keep the pie. But I’ll give back the pen, if I can hang out here for a bit.”

I can’t stop the giggle of surprise.

Most of my customers say the same things all the time, and I like the rhythm of it… but it’s been alongfucking time since I let anyone catch me off-guard like this.

“Y-Yeah. Of course. Let me grab that for you.” I glance over my shoulder before I disappear into the kitchen, just in time to catch Gage winking at me once more.

He retreats to his table, whistling softly as he walks away.

I dump everything on the kitchen counter and fully embrace the fridge, thumping my head against it softly.

Holy shit. My knees are weak. My cock isdistressinglyhard in my pants. I want to melt into a puddle on the floor. And I still feel like I’ve been flustered right out of all my words.

What in all the nine hells is happening?

Gage knows exactly what he’s doing, and I gotta admit, that makes a real nice change.

I’ve got a name, and I know Gage is happy to flirt with me. That’s a great start. And now I have the chance to find out everything else I’m wondering about him.

May the luck of my homeland be with me, because I need it like never before.

Chapter

Four

GAGE

However hard asI try to focus on the photos and map laid out across the table, I can’t stop glancing at the swinging doors to the kitchen.

Kieran is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

He’s exactly my opposite: constantly smiling, confident and flirtatious, outrageously outgoing. But then when I flirt back, he has these moments of looking all adorably tongue-tied.

Is that a glimpse of the real Kieran? Or is he just not used to people meeting him halfway?

Whatever the case, he’s a pint-sized spitfire and I can’t get enough of it.

Then the doors swing open and my heart rate soars as I watch Kieran gliding over to me with a plate balanced on his fingertips.

Apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

“Mmm,” I groan as Kieran leans in close to me—so close I can almost feel his body heat against my arm. “Just what the doctor ordered. You’re saving my life here.”

For me, that’s downright talkative. I know it’s just the nerves. The more I make small talk, the less likely I am to do something silly.

“Anything to save a life,” Kieran murmurs.

Oh, shit.

Now I’m staring right up at him, and he’s looking back at me. Our gazes are locked, and the already fiery chemistry is roaring into an undeniable blaze.

I don’t know if either of us can look away now.

Warm brown eyes, wavy pink hair—just long enough to tangle my fingers in, I can’t help thinking—and soft lips. He smells like coconut, and it makes me want to eat him up. With a spoon, or just my bare hands and mouth on his bare skin.

He’s so much shorter than me, this is the only way I could be looking up at him.

Well, unless I get on my knees.

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